KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has slammed the opposition for their reactions to charges against Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
"When it comes to them, they claim that the government is being unfair and practises double standards.
"When it involves them, they claim that the charges against Muhyiddin were made hastily. When it involved me, they considered it a 'comprehensive investigation'.
"This is the reality... when mistakes are made, a thorough investigation is conducted, and the attorney-general has full authority to prosecute.
"I know this well because I was charged even before the investigation was completed.
"That's why, when I faced charges, amendments had to be made to them," he told reporters after the launch of the International Social Security Association (ISSA) Technical Seminar 2024.
Zahid said this in response to claims that the charge against Perikatan Nasional chairman and Bersatu president Muhyiddin were made hastily.
Yesterday, Bersatu deputy president Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu had said that there was no basis for charging Muhyiddin, arguing that the Pagoh member of parliament's speech merely presented facts and was not intended to provoke.
This morning, Muhyiddin was charged under the Sedition Act at the Sessions Court in Gua Musang, for allegedly raising sensitive issues related to race, religion and royalty in his speech during campaigning for the Nenggiri state seat by-election recently.
The former prime minister pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him before judge Nik Mohd Tarmizie Nik Mohd Shukri.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain had yesterday said police had recorded statements from 66 witnesses to assist the investigation.
The investigation was under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act, Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, and Section 504 of the Penal Code.
It was reported that Tengku Mahkota of Pahang Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah had expressed anger and deep regret at Muhyiddin's actions, which he described as deliberately belittling and disputing the duties and role of the Sultan of Pahang, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah during his reign as the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
In a statement issued by Istana Abdulaziz on Aug 18, Tengku Hassanal said he wanted police to take decisive action without compromise against Muhyiddin for touching on 3R issues.
Last Wednesday, Muhyiddin handed over several documents to the police during a one-hour session to assist in the investigation into his statements that allegedly touched on 3R issues.